Objects can absorb some colours and reflect or

transmit others

The colour of an opaque object

• This is determined by the pigments that are found in the object– For example, a red apple is red because

it absorbs all wavelengths of light except red, red light is reflected to your eye and that is the “colour” you see

White light hits the apple

But only red is reflected

A white hat would reflect all seven colours:

A pair of purple trousers would reflect purple light (and red and blue, as purple is made up of red and

blue):

Purple light

White light

White light

White light

Using coloured lightIf we look at a coloured object in coloured light we see something different. For example, consider these clothes:

White light

Shirt looks red

Shorts look blue

In different colours of light these clothes would look different:

Red light

Blue light

Shirt still looks red but the shorts are blackShorts are still blue but the shirt is black

The colour of translucent or transparent objects

• For translucent or transparent materials to have a particular colour they must absorb all other colours of light but transmit and reflect the colour of the material– Eg. Green film used to wrap a gift

looks green no matter if the light is shining through it or on it.